Wasser, fließend — Copyright Kevin Grieve/Unsplash

TZW: Review

Annual report 2024

Dear reader!

2024 was a record year for onshore wind energy in Germany, according to a recent report. However, excellent results can also be achieved with expertise in the field of water, as the development of TZW over the past year shows.

Thanks to our laboratory and testing services as well as scientific consulting and research assignments, turnover rose again compared to the previous year to 24.8 million euros. The number of employees also increased again to over 200. The RiskPlus software solution, which TZW developed together with Disy Informationssysteme and launched on the market in 2024, broke new ground. The success with customers from the water supply sector shows us that this is the right approach. Other digital products, for example for water demand forecasting, are already available.

We want to carry this innovative and positive spirit into 2025.

Facts and figures

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Research projects

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Customers

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Employees

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Water samples

Turnover development

26 Mio. €

23 Mio. €

20 Mio. €

17 Mio. €

18,7 Mio. €

2021

20,0 Mio. €

2022

21,0 Mio. €

2023

24,8 Mio. €

2024

Source of funding

Testing 40%
Research 16%
Technical-scientific expertises 44%

2024

Fields of activity

Resource protection
Priorities 2024
Risk management in the water supply / Drinking water catchment area ordinance
Problem- and area specific monitoring programmes, soil analyses and site inspections
Nitrate monitoring 4.0 - intelligent systems for a sustainable reduction of nitrate in groundwater
Introduction and development of groundwater models for water supply
Effects of climate change on the local water supply
Groundwater-compatible land management
Software solution RiskPlus

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Environmental biotechnology
Priorities 2024
Electrochemical degradation of PFAS
Development of new methods for the detection of antibiotic resistance in the environment
Microbiological degradation of trichloroethylene under aerobic conditions without additional auxiliary substrates
Natural degradation (ND) of chloroethenes at contaminated sites
Degradation of pollutants through a combination of chemical (ISCO) and microbiological treatment
Material transport modelling for pollutant degradation

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Water analysis
Priorities 2024
Analysis of drinking water samples in accordance with legal requirements
Analysis of groundwater, surface water and raw water
Analysis of municipal and industrial wastewater
Determination of ultra-short-chain PFAS in various matrices
Specific microbiological detection of indicator organisms or pathogens
Analysis of somatic coliphages
Quantitative determination of assimilable organic carbon (AOC) by recording bacterial reproduction curves

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Micropollutants
Priorities 2024
Development and improvement of trace analysis methods for micro-pollutants for both water samples and solid samples
Analysis of water and solid samples for PFAS
Studies on the release of PFAS from different matrices
Analysis and environmental behaviour of PMT substances (e.g. TFA, amidosulfonic acid, 1,2,4-triazole, and others)
Determination of specific groups of substances such as antiscalants (organic phosphonates and polyacrylates), pharmaceutical residues and endocrine disruptors, pesticide active ingredients and metabolites
Non-target analysis for trace substance identification
Elution tests to determine the release of trace substances from soil or other solid materials
Determination of microplastics in various matrices

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Microorganisms
Priorities 2024
Causes of hygienic-microbiological contamination during water extraction, in the waterworks, in tanks or in the pipe network
Preparation of action plans for water supply companies without final disinfection with chlorine or chlorine dioxide
MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for the identification of bacteria
Use of flow cytometry and PCR-based methods for quality control
Evaluation of the microbiological quality of raw water by analysing index pathogens (Campylobacter, viruses and parasites) and viral indicators (bacteriophages)
Analyses for the elimination of antibiotic resistance during water treatment
Precise identification of microbiological contamination sources in the drinking water distribution system
Evaluation of molecular biological methods for microbiological monitoring
Cultivation and Detection of Cyanobacteria
Biodiversity and Water Quality in Water Reservoirs

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Wastewater and water cycle
Priorities 2024
Detection of SARS CoV-2 biomarkers in wastewater
Extraction of nucleic acids and quantitative measurement using digital droplet PCR (ddPCR)
Quantitative detection of RNA in the context of wastewater-based epidemiology
Water reuse
Removal of microbiological contamination during the treatment and reuse of wastewater
Elimination of antibiotic resistance and viruses during further wastewater treatment
Passive Samplers for Detection of SARS-CoV-2 and Antibiotic Resistances

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Testing of materials and products
Priorities 2024
Type tests and monitoring tests in accordance to Evaluation criteria document for plastics and other organic materials in contact with drinking water (KTW-BWGL)
Initial inspection on behalf of DVGW CERT as part of 1+ certifications
Collaboration in groups for the preparation of the Guidance document within the EU-DWD
Product monitoring at manufacturers
Testing of pipes and fittings
Testing of products in water distribution and drinking water installations
Testing of devices for water treatment in domestic installations (e.g. softening systems)
Testing of UV devices, sensors and UV LED technology

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Concepts for supply structures and technology
Priorities 2024
Structural and supply concepts adapted to changing conditions such as climate change or demographic developments
Optimisation of existing treatment processes with regard to energy and resource efficiency
Pilot plants for treatment processes and technology concepts
Treatment of saline retentate from reverse osmosis plants
Removal of PFAS in consideration of new drinking water limits
Scientific support for extended efficacy tests of new treatment materials

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Asset management and infrastructure
Priorities 2024
Camera inspection of drinking water pipes
Development and implementation of the condition-orientated flushing strategy
Identification of water losses by analysing water demand data using specific algorithms
Development of optimised maintenance strategies based on in-situ corrosion measurements and systematic pipe network flushing
Ensuring water quality in the drinking water installation through optimised operation of the installation
Structural and supply concepts adapted to changing conditions such as climate change or demographic developments
Condition assessment of valves in drinking water networks

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Digitalisation and management
Priorities 2024
Software solution for risk management (RiskPlus)
Software solution for short-term drinking water demand prognosis (PrognEAU)
Software solution for classifying the drinking water relevance of trace substances and potential measures for risk management (R&D subproject HOT-TARGET)
Software solution for rapid identification of microbiological organisms relevant to drinking water using MALDI-TOF analysis (R&D subproject BAK-IDENT)
Software solution for evaluating data from non-target analysis (R&D project K2I-Xplore)
Software solution for predictive maintenance of large-scale reverse osmosis systems (R&D project TRINK-PREDICT)
Operation of databases for up to 1,200 water utilities on the occurrence of pesticides, their metabolites, and nitrate, including assessment
Videos and hybrid formats for knowledge transfer

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Projects completed in 2024

A camera car inspects a pipe — Use of the camera car

Analysis methods for digital inspection data evaluation (DataInspect)

Project on the use of indoor inspection data in the drinking water sector: research, survey and interviews show potential for deep learning and autoencoders.

Melting tank liquid steel in a steel mill (Image: shutterstock)

At-line measurement method for rapid analysis of total zinc in process waters (ZinkAtline)

The aim of the project was to develop an at-line measurement method for analysing the total zinc content in process waters from steel production and galvanic surface treatment (galvanizing). The research work was intended to create the conditions for safe compliance with the wastewater discharge limits for total zinc.

Water from a tap fills a glass — Practical approaches are needed for the evaluation of substances in drinking water that have not yet been evaluated or have only been partially evaluated. Image: LedyX on Shutterstock

Concepts for the assessment of drinking water contaminants (GOW-OPTI)

In some cases, substances for which there are no established limit or guideline values are found in drinking water at very low concentrations. The German Environment Agency has developed comprehensive solutions for such cases, and we have collaborated to assess their effectiveness and identify areas for enhancement in their practical implementation.

Experimental Setup to determine the electrokinetic mobilisation of aerobic chloroethene degraders

Enhanced and innovative in-situ Biotechnologies for Contaminated Land Remediation (EiCLaR)

With EiCLaR, an EU/China consortium, scientific and technical innovations for in-situ bioremediation processes were promoted. As part of the project, combined electro-bioremediation processes for the remediation of chloroethene-contaminated groundwater were investigated at TZW. New bioaugmentation technologies and molecular biological monitoring methods were developed.

Increased temperatures in the drinking water distribution network (MibiTemp)

The Project aimed on a general understanding of the effects of increased water temperatures on resilience and vulnerability of microbial communities within distribution networks in order to derive specific measurements to protect and preserve the drinking water quality.

Innovative UV-LED applications for sustainable water management (InLEDapp)

The growing need for innovative solutions in sustainable water use affects public water supply, agriculture, and industry alike. The InLEDapp project investigated how novel UV-LED technology can contribute to chemical-free and energy-efficient water treatment (drinking water and wastewater). The aim was to demonstrate the practical feasibility of this technology and compare it with conventional methods.

Recent extremely dry summers have been posing new challenges for the water supply in some German regions (Chris Weiher on Unsplash.com)

Multi-sectoral waterdemand and regions of water shortage in Germany (WatDEMAND)

Climate change has arrived in Germany and poses new challenges for water suppliers. WatDEMAND analysed which impacts climate change will have on water demand in Germany and where new regions of water shortage might emerge.

New water resources and innovative wastewater treatment (Newa-Lima)

The technology of managed aquifer recharge (MAR), which has been proven in Germany, was introduced in Peru as a nature-based solution. Its potential for the cost-effective supply of high-quality industrial and drinking water in densely populated water-deficit regions were demonstrated.

Durchführung Online-Messtechnik — Online measurement technology in drinking water treatment

Online technology for operational monitoring of drinking water treatment (TRINKcontrol)

Efficient monitoring of drinking water treatment processes using online measurement technology is becoming increasingly important, partly due to new regulations. The aim of the DVGW research project TRINKcontrol was to investigate innovative applications of online measurement technology, e.g. for automatic process control and further microbiological quality monitoring, and to develop recommendations for practical use.

Typical salt contents in process waters compared with contents in drinking waters

Recycling of saline waters (RIKovery)

The project consortium pursued the vision of reuse industrial water flows as completely as possible in order to relieve natural water resources. The task of TZW was the development of an online process monitoring for organic trace substances in highly saline matrices.

Reuse of water for urban and agricultural irrigation (Nutzwasser)

The effects of climate change are already evident today resulting in extreme and prolonged dry periods. The use of alternative water resources is thus becoming increasingly important.

Sampling points for the surveillance at model sites

Surveillance of Pathogens and Antibiotic Resistances in Aquatic Ecosystems (SARA)

A better understanding of the fate of pathogenic viruses and antibiotic-resistant bacteria from the sources to river basins and estuaries are urgently required. The international SARA research project, coordinated by TZW, was able to close a number of knowledge gaps.

Ultrafiltration as an element of energy efficiency in drinking water hygiene (Ultra-F)

The aim of the project was the holistic and systematic investigation of drinking water installations on the lab scale, in pilot plants and in field trials in order to prove the effectiveness of ultrafiltration (UF) while keeping domestic hot water (DHW) installation hygienically safe during operation with reduced temperatures. Furthermore, the effect of UF on the primary energetic impact of the installations was evaluated to determine the potential of CO2 emission reduction.

International projects

Zero Pollution of Persistent, Mobile substances (ZeroPM)

Persistent, mobile (PM) substances are being recognized as serious threats to the safety of water resources. In many cases, drinking water supplies have to be purified using expensive technologies because of contamination by PM substances. The most famous example of PM substances are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), but there are numerous others. This worldwide problem has triggered new policy and monitoring actions and the European Green Deal contains a broad initiative for chemical…

Water treatment in sewage treatment plant

German-Israeli project for advanced wastewater treatment (ELARIA)

This research project will provide reliable data on additional wastewater treatment steps for the elimination of antibiotic resistance and health-related microbiological parameters.

Roads flooded with water — Flooded roads, RRR-project

A transnational strategy extending the role of roads to support rural water systems (Rural Roadwater Rescue)

Roads and highways are crossing the north-west-european (NEW) territory abundantly. They usually drain the runoff water from rainfall events swiftly to canals/rivers, whereas local stakeholders would urgently need this surplus water. Rural Roadwater Rescue will demonstrate an actionable strategy how to save, treat (clean) and locally distribute water through transformation of existing roads/highways.